Two stage turbine with piston/cylinder assembly positioned therebetween

Abstract

A turbine comprising first and second stages, the first stage being a power stage and the second stage being an exhaust stage, a piston-cylinder assembly is connected between the stages, a shaft extending between the stages has at least one throw thereon in the piston-cylinder assembly and pressure conduit means extend from the first stage to the second stage and to the piston-cylinder assembly whereby the fluid pressure from the first stage drives the piston-cylinder assembly and acts on the second stage to cause the second stage to exhaust fluid from the turbine to a reservoir therefor. Fluid is supplied to the turbine from a pressure source and the turbine exhausts fluid to the reservoir, and further including means for transferring the fluid from the reservoir back to the pressure source.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A turbine comprising first and second stages, said first stage being a power stage and said second stage an exhaust stage, a piston-cylinder assembly between said stages, a shaft extending between said stages and having at least one throw thereon in said piston-cylinder assembly, pressure conduit means extending from said first stage to the cylinders of said piston-cylinder assembly and to said second stage whereby fluid pressure from said first stage drives the pistons of said piston-cylinder assembly in a power stroke, the pistons of said piston-cylinder assembly upon the exhaust stroke thereof transferring fluid to said second stage to cause said second stage to exhaust fluid from said turbine. 
     
     
       2. A system including the turbine of claim 1, wherein fluid is supplied to said turbine from a pressure source and said turbine exhausts fluid to a reservoir, and means for transferring said fluid from said reservoir to said pressure source. 
     
     
       3. The turbine of claim 1 wherein said first and second stages have rotating valve assemblies which direct fluid under pressure first to said piston-cylinder assembly and then to said second stage through said pressure conduits. 
     
     
       4. The turbine or claim 3 wherein said valve assemblies each include at least two rotating valves which sequentially communicate with at least four pressure conduits to drive said piston-cylinder assembly. 
     
     
       5. The turbine of claim 4 wherein, said second stage includes at least two rotating valves which are out of phase with the rotating valves of said first stage and permit introduction of fluid to rotor blades on said shaft in said second stage upon the pistons of said piston cylinder assemblies returning toward top dead center. 
     
     
       6. The turbine of claim 1 wherein said piston-cylinder assembly supplies fluid under pressure to said second stage through said conduits upon the exhaust stroke of the pistons thereof. 
     
     
       7. The turbine of claim 6 wherein said piston-cylinder assembly is within a housing, a passage defined between said second stage and said housing to exhaust fluid from said second stage to said housing and further comprising an opening in said housing to exhaust fluid therefrom to a receptacle therefor. 
     
     
       8. The turbine of claim 1 wherein first rotor blades are on said shaft in said first stage. 
     
     
       9. The turbine of claim 8 wherein the fluid under pressure supplied to said first stage acts on said first rotor blades to produce a driving torque on said shaft. 
     
     
       10. The turbine of claim 9 wherein said pressure conduit means comprise a plurality of angularly spaced fluid lines. 
     
     
       11. The turbine of claim 9 further comprising a first rotating valve assembly on said shaft in said first stage, said first valve assembly selectively provides communication between said first stage and said fluid lines. 
     
     
       12. The turbine of claim 8 wherein second rotor blades are on said shaft in said second stage. 
     
     
       13. The turbine of claim 12 wherein the exhaust fluid from said piston-cylinder assembly acts on said second rotor blades to produce a driving torque on said shaft. 
     
     
       14. The turbine of claim 13 further including a second rotating valve assembly on said shaft in said second stage, said second valve assembly being in a phase relationship with said first valve assembly such that fluid is admitted to said second stage only during exhaust strokes of the pistons of said piston-cylinder assembly. 
     
     
       15. The turbine of claim 14 wherein said first rotating valve assembly includes an annular member having openings therein and which selectively provide and block communication between said first stage. 
     
     
       16. A turbine comprising first and second stages and a piston-cylinder assembly between said stages, a shaft extending through said first and second stages and said piston-cylinder assembly, said shaft having at least one throw thereon in said piston-cylinder assembly, said piston-cylinder assembly comprising a plurality of piston-cylinders with the pistons connected to said at least one throw, a plurality of fluid lines connected between said first stage and the cylinders of said piston-cylinders and adapted to transmit fluid under pressure from said first stage to the cylinders of said piston-cylinders, each of said pistons moving in a power stroke and an exhaust stroke, first rotor blades on said shaft in said first stage, second rotor blades on said shaft in said second stage, said fluid lines also connecting said cylinders to said second stage, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said first stage to act on said first rotor blades and produce torque on said shaft, first valving means on said shaft cylinders through said fluid lines to cause said pistons to selectively move in a power stroke, said cylinders transmitting fluid under pressure to said fluid line and to said second stage as the pistons thereof move in an exhaust stroke, second valving means on said shaft in said second stage, said first and second valving means being so related in phase that fluid under pressure in said fluid conduits from said first stage act only on said piston-cylinders and the exhaust fluid from said piston-cylinders acts on said second rotor blades in said second stage to produce torque on said shaft, and venting means for exhausting fluid from said second stage. 
     
     
       17. The turbine of claim 16 wherein each of said valving means comprises a circular member having apertures therein substantially 180° about the periphery thereof to provide communication between said stages and said conduits. 
     
     
       18. A system for converting water motion to electrical energy comprising water motion magnifying means, at least one float responsive to water motion having reciprocating vertical movement, a cylinder having a piston, means connecting said at least one float to drive said piston in said cylinder, accumulator means, reservoir means, first conduit means connecting said accumulator means to said cylinder to receive fluid under pressure from said cylinder, second conduit means connecting said accumulator means to said reservoir means, a turbine connected to said conduit means arranged to be driven by fluid flow in said second conduit, and electrical generating means arranged to be driven by said turbine, said turbine comprising first and second stages, said first stage being a power stage and said second stage an exhaust stage, a piston-cylinder assembly between said stages, a shaft extending between said stages and having at least one throw thereon between in said piston-cylinder assembly, pressure conduit means extending from said first stage to the cylinders of said piston-cylinder assembly and to said second stage whereby fluid pressure from said first stage drives the pistons of said piston-cylinder assembly in a power stroke, the pistons of said piston-cylinder assemblies upon the exhaust stroke thereof transferring fluid to said second stage to cause said second stage to exhaust fluid from said turbine. 
     
     
       19. The turbine of claim 1 wherein there are first rotor blades on said shaft in said first stage and second rotor blades on said shaft in said second stage, means for introducing fluid under pressure to said first stage to act on said first rotor blades and produce torque on said shaft, said piston-cylinder assembly transferring fluid under pressure to said second stage to act on said second rotor blades and produce torque on said shaft prior to exhaust of fluid from said second stage. 
     
     
       20. The turbine of claim 19 wherein said piston-cylinder assembly comprises a plurality of cylinders having pistons therein connected to said at least one throw.